Air guide structure



Dec. 27, 19% G. LE RoY GLEASON ETAL 3,29%,W'?

AIR GUIDE STRUCTURE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 16, 1965 5 mm S Nw m my 0 Pl 8 n m G Gerald Roberf Deifz BY 3 9M, 770% 0 77M y i=9 is g A? g 6 g 6 3 Aisv ivy ATTORNEY W 27, @966 G. LE OY GLEASON ETAL 3 2mm? AIR GUIDE STRUCTURE 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 16, 1963 GLEN LEROY GLEA SON GERALD EOEERT D El T2,

BY JM,7?MQ 77M ATTORNEY 16 ca. LE RQY GLEASUIM FETAL SQMQ? AIR GUIDE STRUCTURE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 16, 1963 INVENTORS Glen Leroy Gleason Gerald Robert Deiiz ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofiice 32%,967 Patented Dec. 27, 1966 3,294,007 AIR GUIDE STRUCTURE Glen Le Roy Gleason, Belding, and Gerald Robert Deitz, Turk Lake, Mich, assignors to Hupp Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Virginia Filed Oct. 16, 1963, Ser. No. 316,669 7 Claims. (Cl. 98-4il) This invention relates to air conditioners and more particularly to structure for directing and guiding the air issuing from air conditioners.

The present invention will be disclosed herein as applied to window-mounted air conditioners since this is an appli-* cation in which the invention is expected to have its greatest utility.

As is well known in the art, air conditioners of this type are mounted in a fixed location with the outlet positioned essentially flush with the wall of the room served by the air conditioner. Usually, only one air conditioner is mounted in each room. Since the location of the unit depends on the location of the available window space it is often not possible to position the unit in a location to produce optimum distribution of the conditioned air. Accordingly, in many instances the air conditioner produces localized cooling and objectionable drafts while leaving other areas of the space to be served relatively hot and humid.

In the past it has been proposed to solve this problem by the provision of air guide structure including louver structure, at least a portion of which is motor driven to provide an oscillating fiow of air. One of the most successful prior systems is that disclosed in United States Patent 2,907,262 in which two sets of louver structures are utilized, one set being positioned in the air conditioner front panel and being manually adjustable to control the flow of air vertically and the second set of louvers being positioned upstream of the manually adjustable louvers and being motor driven to provide a flow of air which oscillates from side to side. While this system has proved reasonably successful in operation, nevertheless, both sets of louvers and the drive mechanism for the oscillating louvers are relatively complex and their cost is such that it contributes significantly to the overall cost of the air conditioner.

With these considerations in mind it is the principal purpose and object of the present invention to provide unique louver structures primarily for air conditioners which are of simplified construction and which may be manufactured and sold at substantially reduced cost.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide oscillating louver structures for air conditioners which are durable and light in weight, which are completely noise! less in operation and which require no maintenance.

In attaining these and other objects, the present invention provides a combined louver, louver support and louver drive mechanism constructed entirely of plastic and including a set of louvers molded integrally with the support structure. In all forms of the invention the louvers are pivotally mounted on support structure by hinges formed integrally with the louvers and the support structure. In the preferred form of the invention all of the louvers are formed integrally with a single support structure and with a single connecting drive structure. In another form of the invention the louvers and support structures are formed integrally and a separate drive link structure is formed to be snapped onto the louvers.

It is, accordingly, a further object of the present invention to provide improved louver structures including swingable louvers formed integrally with fixed support structure eliminating the need for separate hinges or pivots.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the description proceeds in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front view of an air conditioner mcorporating the air guide structure of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical section taken along line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken along line 33 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of the oscillating air guide louvers and their support structure;

FIGURE 5 is a front view of the structure shown in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of the oscillating louver structure and its associated drive mechanism;

FIGURE 7 is a horizontal section taken along line 77 of FIGURE 6; and

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of a modified form of the oscillating louver construction.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the air conditioner assembly shown herein is of essentially conventional construction apart from the air guide structure. The unit is of the type adapted to be mounted in a window and in accordance with conventional practice includes a sheet metal shell 20 in which all of the main operating components are housed. It will be understood that the unit includes, in addition to the evaporator 22 and the blower 24 shown in FIGURE 2, a compressor, a condenser and an additional blower for circulating air over the condenser. These components, all of which are conventional, have been omitted for clarity.

The front of the air conditioner, i.e., that portion of the unit which projects into the room, is covered by a removable front panel indicated generally at 26 fabricated from any suitable material such as plastic or light gauge metal. The panel 26 is divided by a horizontal strip 28 into a lower intake section 30 and an upper outlet section 32 which is divided by a central vertical strip 33. The air intake section 30 is formed by a plurality of horizontally extending spaced fixed louvers 34 extending across the full width of the panel except for the area occupied by the panel 36 which covers the air conditioner controls, not shown. The velocity and direction of the conditioned air passing through the outlet opening 32 is controlled by a manually adjustable set of louvers indicated generally at 38 and a motor driven set of louvers indicated generally at 40.

The louver structure 38 comprises a series of louver members 42 preferably of molded plastic construction. At their opposite ends and centrally the louvers 42 are provided with aligned pivot pins 44, 45 and 46 which extend through aligned openings in the rim of the front panel member 26 as best shown in FIGURE 3 and slots in intermediate vertical strip 33. Each of the louvers also has at one end an additional pin 48 positioned adjacent its rear edge. The pins 45 are retained in the slot by a strip 47 adjustably secured to strip 33 by a screw 49. The pins 48 extend through spaced openings in a link 50 which is held in place on the pins by suitable clips 52. The lowermost louver 42 is provided with a forwardly projecting control member 54. When the front end of the control member 54 is moved up or down, all of the louvers are simultaneously swung about their pivot axes to deflect the air issuing through the front panel up or down. The frictional engagement between the intermediate pins 45 and the louver retainer 47 is sufficient to hold the louvers in any adjusted position. The degree of friction is adjusted by screw 49.

The oscillating louver structure 40 is mounted immediately upstream of the manually adjustable louver structure 38. In its preferred form the louver structure 40, its associated support structure, and drive structure comprise a number of relatively movable integrally formed components all of these components preferably being molded from a single piece of suitable plastic. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention the louver structure 40 comprises four oscillating louvers 56 although it will be understood that this number can be varied to suit the requirements of a particular installation. The louvers 56 are pivotally mounted, as described in greater detail below, on a support strip 58 secured by screws 60 to a support member 62 forming a portion of the air conditioner duct structure. The louvers 56 are connected for co-rnovement by a link 63 which extends along the upper rear edge of the louvers. The plastic louver assembly is completed by a drive link 64, one end of which is formed integrally with the adjacent one of the louvers 56 and the opposite end of which receives an eccentric crank 66 rotated by a gear reduction mechanism 68 and driven by a small electric motor 69 carried by the support member 62.

The louvers 56 are pivotally mounted on the support strip 58 by identical hinge constructions indicated generally at 70 which are best shown in FIGURES 6 and 7. These hinge constructions 70 each comprise a post 72 formed integrally with the base plate 58 and extending essentially vertically therefrom. The lower portions of the louvers 56 are provided with attaching sections 74, which, as shown in FIGURE 7, are tapered at their forward ends. Where the attaching sections 74 joint the posts 72 the thickness of the plastic is reduced to from .015" to .020 to form upper and lower integral or self hinges 76 and 78 separated by an opening 80. Experience has shown that the hinges 76 and 78 provide sufficient flexibility to permit the louvers 56 to oscillate freely and yet have sufiicient strength and durability to withstand continuous flexing throughout the life of the air conditioner.

As best shown in FIGURES 6 and 7 the end of the drive link 64 adjacent the louver 56 is tapered to a point which is connected to the attaching section 74 of the louver by a thin self hinge 82 formed integrally with the drive link and the adjacent louver 56 when the parts are molded.

The connecting link 63 is hinged to the individual louvers 56 in the same manner. More specifically, the link 63 is provided with a plurality of downwardly extending integral projections 84 which, as shown in FIGURE 4, are of essentially tear drop configuration in section and form a relatively sharp edge 86 adjacent the rear edge of the individual louvers 56. Along this relatively sharp edge 86 the projections 84 are joined to the main body of the louvers 56 by a self hinge 88 which is of essentially the same configuration as the hinges 76, 78 and 82. It is to be noted that the parts are shown in FIGURES 6 and 7 in the position in which they are molded rather than the position which they occupy in use which is illustrated in FIGURES 4 and 5. In the position of FIGURES 6 and 7, the individual louvers 56 as well as the drive link 64 and the connecting link 63 all are parallel to the longitudinal axis of the mounting strip 58, thus permitting the use of a relatively simple, compact mold to form the entire structure. After the parts have been molded to this configuration they may be moved to either the full line or dotted line positions of FIGURE 4, the former showing the intermediate position and the latter showing the limit positions of the louvers in operation. The entire louver mechanism may be installed by simply placing the molded assembly in the proper position, tightening the screws 60 and snapping the free end of the drive link 64 onto the lower end of the crank pin 66. The parts need not be adjusted since they automatically assume the correct position. Also, because of the self hinge construction employed throughout, the vanes are completely noiseless in operation and require no maintenance. The

manufacturing economies effected by this assembly will be readily apparent.

When the drive motor 69 is energized the louvers are caused to swing back between the limit positions shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 4, which, in a typical case, are about 60 apart. Also, in a typical case the speed of the motor 69 and the reduction gear 68 are such that the vanes are moved from one limit position to the opposite limit position once every ten seconds. It has been found that this action produces a gentle sweep of air from side to side in the room served by the unit, avoids stratification of the air and completely eliminates the problems of objectionable drafts and localized over cooling often associated with prior units having fixed louver constructions. The electrical circuit controlling the operation of the motor 69 will be so arranged that the motor is energized only when the fan 24 is in operation. However, it is preferable that provision also be made through conventional control circuits, not shown, to permit the user to de-enerigze the drive motor 69 whenever desired to hold the louvers stationary in any position which may be required to correct unusual conditions.

The louver construction shown in FIGURE 8 differs from that of the previously described embodiment in that it is of two piece construction. In this form of the invention the individual louvers 90 are connected to a base plate 92 by self hinges 94 which are preferably identical to the hinge constructions described above for the louvers 56. The drive link 96 is also connected by a self hinge 98 to one of the louvers 90 in essentially the same manner as the link 63. The connecting link 100 is formed separately and is provided with pairs of closely spaced upwardly extending projections 102 which are adapted to grip the upper edge of recesses 104 formed in the bottom of the individual louvers 90. To assemble this construction it is necessary only to snap the connecting link 100 into place. It remains firmly engaged indefinitely under the light loads encountered in use.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. Louver structure for use in an air conditioner having an opening through which a stream of conditioned air passes comprising a plurality of vanes, fixed support structure mounted adjacent said opening, flexible hinge sections formed integrally with said support structure and said vanes for supporting said vanes on said support structure for swinging movement with respect thereto about predetermined axes, a link formed integrally with each of said vanes and connecting said vanes at points spaced from said axes for co-movement, a drive member, a hinge construction formed integrally with said drive member and one of said vanes for pivotally connecting said drive member to said one of said vanes, and means for oscillating said drive member to thereby oscillate each of said vanes about its respective pivotal axis.

2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said last-mentioned means comprises a motor, an eccentric driven by said motor, said eccentric being connected to said drive link.

3. The combination according to claim 1 together with a set of louvers, and means mounting said louvers downstream of said vanes for pivotal movement about axes normal to the pivotal axes of said vanes.

4. Louver structure for use in an air conditioner having a horizontally elongated opening through which a stream of conditioned air passes comprising an elongated base plate adapted to extend along the bottom edge of said opening essentially from end to end thereof, a plurality of parallel posts projecting upwardly from said base plate in a direction essentially normal to said base plate, said posts being substantially shorter than the distance between the top and bottom edges of said opening, a plurality of vertically elongated vanes having a length substantially greater than said posts, hinges formed integrally with the respective vanes and posts mounting said vanes on the respective posts for pivotal movement about predetermined axes adjacent said posts, the portion of said vanes extending beyond said posts being formed to dispose an edge of said vanes essentially in alignment with said posts, said vanes each having a recess, a connecting link extending through each of said recesses, co-operating means on said connecting link and each of said vanes for detachably snap-fastening said link to each of said vanes, and a drive member pivotally connected to one of said vanes, said drive member being adapted to transmit a driving impulse to said one vane, said driving impulse being transmitted by said connecting link to each of the remaining vanes to thereby oscillate each of said vanes about its pivotal axis. 1

5. Louver structure for use in an air conditioner having an opening through which a stream of conditioned air passes, comprising an elongated base plate adapted to span one edge of said opening, a plurality of parallel posts projecting from said base plate toward the opposite edge of said opening in a direction normal to said base plate, a plurality of vanes, hinge means formed integrally with said vanes and said posts for hinge connecting the respective vanes and posts to mount said vanes for swinging movement about predetermined parallel axes, a drive link connected by an integral hinge construction to one of said vanes for imparting a drive force to said one vane, and a link connected to each of said vanes at points spaced from said predetermined axes to connect said vanes for co-movement about said predetermined axes.

6. Louver structure for use in an air conditioner having an opening through which a stream of conditioned air passes, comprising an elongated base plate adapted to span one edge of said opening, a plurality of parallel posts projecting from said base plate toward the opposite edge of said opening in a direction normal to said base plate, a plurality of vanes, said posts being substantially shorter than said vanes, said posts extending into recessed portions of said vanes, the portion of said vanes extending beyond said posts being formed to dispose an edge of said vanes essentially in alignment with said posts, hinge means formed integrally with said vanes and said posts for hinge connecting the respective vanes and posts to mount said vanes for swinging movement about predetermined parallel axes, a drive link connected to one of said vanes for imparting a drive force to said one vane, and a link connected to each of said vanes at points spaced from said predetermined axes to connect said vanes for co-movement about said predetermined axes.

7. Louver structure for use in air conditioner having an opening through which a stream of conditioned air passes, comprising an elongated base plate adapted to span one edge of said opening, a plurality of parallel posts projecting from said base plate toward the opposite edge of said opening in a direction normal to said base plate, a plurality of vanes, hinge means formed integrally with said vanes and said posts for hinge connecting the respective vanes and posts to mount said vanes for swinging movement about predetermined parallel axes, said hinge means comprising a pair of hinges adjacent the opposite ends of said posts, the adjacent portions of said vanes and said posts being spaced apart in the region between said hinges, a drive link connected to one of said vanes for imparting a drive force to said one vane, and a link connected to each of said vanes at points spaced from said predetermined axes to connect said vanes for co-movement about said predetermined axes.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,800,851 7/1957 Kronrad 9899.8 2,907,262 10/1959 Sweedyk 98--40 2,996,970 7/1961 Goettl 98--110 3,060,832 10/1962 Wright 9840 3,093,060 6/1963 Emery 9840 3,139,022 6/1964 Koplar 9894 X 3,182,579 5/1965 Wiseman 9840 ROBERT A. OLEARY, Primary Examiner. JOHN F. OCONNOR, Examiner. W. E. WAYNER, Assislant Examiner. 

5. LOUVER STRUCTURE FOR USE IN AN AIR CONDITIONER HAVING AN OPENING THROUGH WHICH A STREAM OF CONDITIONED AIR PASSES, COMPRISING AN ELONGATED BASE PLATE ADAPTED TO SPAN ONE EDGE OF SAID OPENING, A PLURALITY OF PARALLEL POSTS PROJECTING FROM SAID BASE PLATE TOWARD THE OPPOSITE EDGE OF SAID OPENING IN A DIRECTION NORMAL TO SAID BASE PLATE, A PLURALITY OF VANES, HINGE MEANS FORMED INTEGRALLY WITH SAID VANES AND SAID POSTS FOR HINGE CONNECTING THE RESPECTIVE VANES AND POSTS TO MOUNT SAID VANES FOR SWINGING MOVEMENT ABOUT PREDETERMINED PARALLEL AXES, A DRIVE LINK CONNECTED BY AN INTEGRAL HINGE CONSTRUCTION TO ONE OF SAID VANES FOR IMPARTING A DRIVE FORCE TO SAID ONE VANE, AND A LINK CONNECTED TO EACH OF SAID VANES AT POINTS SAPCED FROM SAID PREDETERMINED AXES TO CONNECT SAID VANCES FOR CO-MOVEMENT ABOUT SAID PREDETERMINED AXES. 